The Bible

 

Genesis 20

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1 Odtud bral se Abraham do země polední, aby bydlil mezi Kádes a Sur; i byl pohostinu v Gerar;

2 Kdežto pravil Abraham o Sáře manželce své: Sestra má jest. Tedy poslav Abimelech, král Gerarský, vzal Sáru.

3 Ale přišed Bůh k Abimelechovi ve snách v noci, řekl jemu: Aj, ty již umřeš pro ženu, kterouž jsi vzal, poněvadž jest vdaná za muže.

4 Abimelech pak nepřiblížil se k ní; protož řekl: Pane, zdaž také spravedlivý národ zabiješ?

5 Zdaliž mi sám nepravil: Sestra má jest? A ona též pravila: Bratr můj jest. V upřímnosti srdce svého a v nevinnosti rukou svých učinil jsem to.

6 I řekl jemu Bůh ve snách: Jáť také vím, že v upřímnosti srdce svého učinil jsi to, a já také zdržel jsem tě, abys nezhřešil proti mně; protož nedalť jsem se jí dotknouti.

7 Nyní tedy, navrať ženu muži tomu; nebo prorok jest, a modliti se bude za tebe, a živ budeš. Pakli jí nenavrátíš, věz, že smrtí umřeš ty i všecko, což tvého jest.

8 A vstav Abimelech ráno, svolal všecky služebníky své, a vypravoval všecka slova ta v uši jejich. I báli se ti muži velmi.

9 Potom povolav Abimelech Abrahama, řekl jemu: Co jsi nám to učinil? A co jsem zhřešil proti tobě, že jsi uvedl na mne a na království mé hřích veliký? Učinils mi, čehož jsi učiniti neměl.

10 A řekl opět Abimelech Abrahamovi: Cos myslil, žes takovou věc učinil?

11 Odpověděl Abraham: Řekl jsem: Jistě že není bázně Boží na místě tomto, a zabijí mne pro ženu mou.

12 A také v pravdě jest sestra má, dcera otce mého, však ne dcera matky mé; a pojal jsem ji sobě za manželku.

13 Když pak vyvedl mne Bůh z domu otce mého, abych pohostinu bydlil, tedy řekl jsem jí: Toto mi dobrodiní učiníš: Na každém místě, kamž půjdeme, prav o mně: Bratr můj jest.

14 Tedy vzav Abimelech ovce a voly, služebníky také a děvky, dal je Abrahamovi; a navrátil mu Sáru manželku jeho.

15 A řekl Abimelech: Aj, zeměpřed tebou; kdežť se koli příhodné býti vidí, tu přebývej.

16 Sáře pak řekl: Aj, dal jsem tisíc stříbrných bratru tvému, hle, onť jest tobě zástěrou očí u všech, kteříž jsou s tebou. A všemi těmito věcmi Sára poučena byla.

17 I modlil se Abraham Bohu, a uzdravil Bůh Abimelecha, a ženu jeho, a děvky jeho; i rodily.

18 Nebo byl zavřel Hospodin každý život ženský v domě Abimelechově, pro Sáru manželku Abrahamovu.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #2533

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2533. And now restore the man’s wife. That this signifies that he should render up the spiritual truth of doctrine without taint from the rational, is evident from the signification of “wife,” as being spiritual truth (see n. 2507, 2510); and from the signification of the “man,” as being doctrine itself; for Abraham (by whom the Lord in that state is represented), when called a “man,” signifies celestial truth, which is the same as doctrine from a celestial origin; for in the internal sense a “man” is the intellectual (see n. 158, 265, 749, 915, 1007, 2517). Hence it is evident that to “restore the man’s wife” is to render up the spiritual truth of doctrine without taint. That it means without taint from the rational, is because Abimelech, who was to restore her, signifies doctrine that has regard to rational things, or what is the same, the rational things of doctrine (n. 2510).

[2] It was said above that although the doctrine of faith is in itself Divine, and therefore above all human and even angelic comprehension, it has nevertheless been dictated in the Word according to man’s comprehension, in a rational manner. The case herein is the same as it is with a parent who is teaching his little boys and girls: when he is teaching, he sets forth everything in accordance with their genius, although he himself thinks from what is more interior or higher; otherwise it would be teaching without their learning, or like casting seed upon a rock. The case is also the same with the angels who in the other life instruct the simple in heart: although these angels are in celestial and spiritual wisdom, yet they do not hold themselves above the comprehension of those whom they teach, but speak in simplicity with them, yet rising by degrees as these are instructed; for if they were to speak from angelic wisdom, the simple would comprehend nothing at all, and thus would not be led to the truths and goods of faith. The case would be the same if the Lord had not taught in the Word in accordance with man’s comprehension, in a rational manner. Nevertheless in its internal sense the Word is elevated to the angelic understanding; and yet that sense, in its highest elevation in which it is perceived by the angels, is infinitely below the Divine. It is hence manifest what the Word is in its origin, and thus in itself; and that it thus everywhere involves more things than the whole heaven is capable of comprehending, even as to a small part, although in the letter it appears so unimportant and so rude.

[3] That the Lord is the Word, because the Word is from Him and He is in the Word, is evident in John:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word; in Him was life, and the life was the light of men; the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, the glory as of the Only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:1, 4, 14; see also Revelation 19:11, 13, 16).

And as the Lord is the Word, He is also doctrine; for there is no other doctrine which is itself Divine.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for the permission to use this translation.